Community
Swansea Police and Fire respond to double fatal fiery crash after police pursuit in connection to Rhode Island homicide
SWANSEA — Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder have announced in a release that the Swansea Police and Fire Departments responded to a serious motor vehicle crash early Friday morning that resulted in the deaths of two people.
At approximately 12:18 a.m., two Swansea Police officers in marked cruisers observed a white 2013 Infinity G37 drive past them at a very high rate of speed westbound on Route 6, otherwise known as Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Moments later, officers observed that the vehicle had crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136 (James Reynolds Road).
Swansea Police arrived moments later, and Swansea Fire was dispatched to the scene. Both vehicles sustained catastrophic damage, and first responders attempted rescue efforts.
The vehicle that was struck was fully engulfed in flames. First responders and bystanders attempted to extinguish the fire, but both occupants — a man and a woman — were pronounced dead at the scene.
The 28-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the victims’ vehicle was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Swansea Police stated that they are aware that the vehicle that had been traveling on Route 6 was the subject of a police pursuit and the driver was wanted in connection to a homicide investigation in Cranston, Rhode Island. Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle, however, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The crash is under investigation by the Swansea Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
